Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[BlindLemonChicken]

I take it the other hens (and other males?) use a coop/barn to roost in (?)
Do you know how many chickens you have living on your property?

I only have the one rooster. The rest of the hens sleep in the coop. Two of those hens spend their day in the woods away from the flock except for feeding times. I think about 14 total.

 

[kattabelly]

Most of the time bums don't need cleaning fortunately. It's not a pleasant job. I am quite fussy about it, particularly in warm weather because of the risk of fly strike. Flies love a bit of damp shite.

Yeah it's only her and to be honest I really should've got round to it sooner. I'm aware of the risk of fly strike but it didn't seem quite as bad when the weather was warmer. Maybe the seemingly perpetual juvenile moults were helping keep her clean up till now, or it might've got slightly worse since she started laying.

I know she's going to HATE it but it's not something I'm squeamish about doing myself at least.

The rest of them always have lovely clean bum fluff and never miss an opportunity to show it off

 

[Shadrach]

 

[RoyalChick]

Yeah it's only her and to be honest I really should've got round to it sooner. I'm aware of the risk of fly strike but it didn't seem quite as bad when the weather was warmer. Maybe the seemingly perpetual juvenile moults were helping keep her clean up till now, or it might've got slightly worse since she started laying.

I know she's going to HATE it but it's not something I'm squeamish about doing myself at least.

The rest of them always have lovely clean bum fluff and never miss an opportunity to show it off
View attachment 4233955
View attachment 4233956

FWIW I used to use the Shad method. Now I just trim with a pair of round ended scissors. Takes no time at all.

 

[kattabelly]

Erm. Should I be worried that I've just realised I can ID those two barred rock cockerels by their bum fluff alone?

FWIW I used to use the Shad method. Now I just trim with a pair of round ended scissors. Takes no time at all.

That will be my plan B, I think. Might try giving her a very quick trim once she's clean to see if it's less of an issue with just a little bit taken off.

 

[BDutch]

Now it's on the legs Mow is very interested in it and when I had the auto door fixed on for testing Mow looked as if she was going to make a jump for the open pop door. I think she knows what it is.

A vacation house of course. No way she knows that you bought it for a cockerel.

Do you have any idea when you can obtain the 2 ex batts. And can they sleep in the Solway right away?

 

[L-plate chicken mum]

I'm very sorry for my contribution to off topic whining. I'll go get new chicken pictures in the morning and do a better job of staying on chicken topics.

Ditto

Definitely nowhere near as bad as moulting is making Henny feel!

Currently a rumpless scuffball and not her usual wild child persona…..

 

[L-plate chicken mum]

Two and a half hours this afternoon. I had planned to be at the field a lot earlier but drama broke out with relatives and I had to go and slap a few people, metaphorically speaking of course.

Still no more rat damage. I doubt I've beaten it, but I have slowed the little fecker up a bit. I know who she is, and where she lives but I cant trap her and nor can Mrs Vixen it seems who has certainly eaten many of her offspring.

A fox dug a very impressive trench where Mow it dust bathing but it's not the type of soil the hens would usually pick. It's quite damp and the weather is far from warm enough to warrant a cooling bath. Maybe Mow is taking her rooster role to another level.
View attachment 4233895
View attachment 4233896View attachment 4233897View attachment 4233898

It will have to do for now. It will be reasonably stable once I've dug the legs into the ground a little. Next month hopefully I will be able to afford to make the recycled plastic stand with three enclosed sides I have in mind. There is a chance it wont get used until the Ex Battery hens arrive, or someone goes broody. Interestingly, while the new coop has been on the ground Mow and Sylph seemed to have dismissed it as more Bucket Boy junk in out garden!
Now it's on the legs Mow is very interested in it and when I had the auto door fixed on for testing Mow looked as if she was going to make a jump for the open pop door. I think she knows what it is.
View attachment 4233899
View attachment 4233900

Smart girl and a lovely picture of her looking at the camera/bucket boy, shows her “bonnet” off really well

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Ditto

Definitely nowhere near as bad as moulting is making Henny feel!

Currently a rumpless scuffball and not her usual wild child persona…..
View attachment 4234107

That is one miserable looking chicken! I have a couple older ladies that are looking rough and it seems like the molt is taking ages. I gave them some sardines yesterday but not sure it helped improve their mood for more than five minutes

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Erm. Should I be worried that I've just realised I can ID those two barred rock cockerels by their bum fluff alone?

That will be my plan B, I think. Might try giving her a very quick trim once she's clean to see if it's less of an issue with just a little bit taken off.

Doesn't have to be perfect, either. If you can remove a little bit, maybe while they're relaxing on the roost, they can usually dustbathe and preen the rest off.